Katie & Jake | Escondido, CA

A Romantic Vineyard Wedding at Rancho Guejito in Escondido, California

Rancho Guejito Vineyard in Escondido is one of those rare Southern California wedding venues that gives you both. Rolling hills. Endless sky. Vineyard rows stretching into the distance. A terrace that feels elevated without feeling formal.

It feels expansive. But intimate at the same time.

On an October afternoon in Escondido, the light hit the Terrace Venue at Rancho Guejito in the softest way. Warm. Golden. Quietly dramatic.

It was the perfect setting for Katie and Jake.

Getting Ready at The Terrace Venue

One of the things I love about Rancho Guejito Vineyard weddings is how seamless the day can feel when everything happens on property.

Katie got ready in the bridal suite at the Terrace Venue, surrounded by her girls and the kind of anticipation that hums instead of overwhelms.

There was laughter. There were quiet moments. There was intention.

Jake got ready in the groom’s suite, steady and grounded.

Before seeing Jake, Katie shared a first look with her dad. It was emotional in the most understated way. No theatrics. Just a father trying to hold himself together while seeing his daughter fully dressed as a bride.

Those are the moments that matter.

A First Look, Reimagined

Katie had a vision for their first look.

Instead of the traditional tap on the shoulder, she wanted to walk toward Jake. To round a corner and move toward him the way she would down the aisle.

And it worked beautifully.

There was distance. Anticipation. That slow walk toward forever.

You could feel the weight of it. Not heavy. Just meaningful.

The way he looked at her when she came into view said everything.

The Ceremony at Rancho Guejito Vineyard

Rancho Guejito Vineyard in Escondido offers one of the most breathtaking ceremony backdrops in Southern California.

The Terrace overlooks open land and vineyard rows, with the hills rolling endlessly behind.

As Katie walked down the aisle for the second time that day, this time officially, the setting felt timeless.

There was also a memorial chair placed thoughtfully in the ceremony space. A quiet tribute to grandparents and loved ones who could not be there. It was subtle but powerful.

Weddings are joy. But they also hold memory. And that balance was honored beautifully.

Cocktail Hour, With a Surprise

As cocktail hour began, guests were mingling beneath the vineyard sky.

And then.

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile rolled in.

A complete surprise.

The reactions were everything. Shock. Laughter. Phones coming out. Guests running toward it like kids.

It was playful. Unexpected. Completely them.

Katie and Jake fully leaned into it, posing with the Wienermobile as the sun began to dip.

Luxury and hot dogs under a vineyard sunset somehow made perfect sense.

An Elevated Reception Under the Stars

As the evening settled in, the Terrace transformed.

Candlelight layered across tables. Linen signage thoughtfully designed. A bar flowing with guests. The vineyard air cooling just slightly as the sky deepened.

Their dog, Squash, made his appearance earlier in the evening for portraits before heading home. Because of course he did. He is part of the story.

The reception felt elevated but never stiff.

There was an intimate cake cutting that happened quietly, without announcement. A marriage license signed just before the ceremony. A big group photo that brought every single guest onto the dance floor before the DJ dropped the first real party song.

It felt intentional.

It felt personal.

It felt like a celebration that did not follow a script.